Detectability of Nonlinear Gravitational Wave Memory

Document #:

LIGO-T2000350-v21

Document type:

T - Technical notes

Abstract:

Abstract Gravitational waves passing through a region of spacetime leave behind a permanent distortion, with strain typically on the order of 1e-23, the so-called memory effect. Linear and nonlinear components exist in gravitational wave memory, the latter appearing as a non-oscillatory, cumulative signal. Current gravitational wave detectors have not yet been able to reliably detect and isolate this low-frequency, nonlinear component which skews the numerical inferences of gravitational wave source parameters. Because this effect is cumulative, it is non-negligible, and its non-oscillatory nature distinguishes it from the rest of the waveform, making it detectable, in theory. Though previous studies have quantified and suggested improvements for the detectability of nonlinear memory, more templates and new data are available than ever before. In this project, we apply Bayesian parameter estimation to simulated gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences with memory to determine nonlinear memory detectability.

Files in Document:

• Final Report (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalReport.pdf, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Final Presentation Version 3 (pdf) (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalPresentation_ver3.pdf, file is not accessible)

Other Files:

• Fifth one-minute update (one_minute_updates_5.pptx, file is not accessible)
• First one-minute update (one_minute_updates_1.pptx, file is not accessible)
• First update for mentors (updating_mentors_1.pptx, file is not accessible)
• Fourth one_minute update (one_minute_updates_4.pptx, file is not accessible)
• Interim Report (Mumma_InterimReport_20200708.pdf, file is not accessible)
• Interim Report 2 (DarinMumma_SURF2020_InterimReport2.pdf, file is not accessible)
• Project Proposal (Mumma_ProjectProposal_20200604.pdf, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Final Presentation Version 1 (pdf) (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalPresentation_ver1.pdf, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Final Presentation Version 1 (pptx) (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalPresentation_ver1.pptx, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Final Presentation Version 2 (pdf) (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalPresentation_ver2.pdf, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Final Presentation Version 2 (pptx) (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalPresentation_ver2.pptx, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Final Presentation Version 3 (pptx) (DarinMumma_Surf2020_FinalPresentation_ver3.pptx, file is not accessible)
• SURF 2020 Midsummer Presentation (presentation_slides_1.pptx, file is not accessible)
• Second one-minute update (one_minute_updates_2.pptx, file is not accessible)
• Second update for mentors (updating_mentors_2.pptx, file is not accessible)
• Third one-minute update (one_minute_updates_3.pptx, file is not accessible)
• Third update for mentors (updating_mentors_3.pptx, file is not accessible)

Topics:

• Compact Binaries
• Data Analysis
• Astrophysics / Multi-messenger

Authors:

• Darin Mumma
• Colm Talbot
• Alan Weinstein
• Alvin Li

Keywords:

SURF20

Referenced by:

• LIGO-T2000645: Final reports from LIGO SURF program, Summer 2020